Category: Environment

Under last week’s settlement, the Bureau of Land Management must revamp the plan to adequately consider the climate impacts of increased greenhouse-gas emissions from transport and consumption of oil and gas. It must also consider land-management alternatives that would meaningfully limit drilling. 

The Lake Christine wildfire last summer not only destroyed three homes and torched thousands of acres of forest, it also came dangerously close to taking down poles holding the full loop of power lines in Basalt. 

Will Toor, executive director of the Colorado Energy Office, said the three top contributors to greenhouse gas emissions are electricity generation, transportation and buildings. As electricity gets cleaner, he said the focus will shift to transportation and buildings.

Researchers are trying to figure out why local populations of mountain goats are thriving while populations of another high-alpine animal — bighorn sheep — have been declining.

CPW biologist Julie Mao points to two likely culprits: climate change and a boom in recreation. She said there’s real urgency to preserve the habitat that gives elk the best chance for survival.

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program will conduct an analysis of a million acres in the Roaring Fork Valley and identify the highest priority areas to protect for wildlife.